STATE FORESTRY CONVENTION. 209 



power of man to secure a sufficient fall of rain to grow a full round of crops 

 for human sustenance. He said there was a suspicion spreading widely that 

 throughout the older parts of our country the climatic conditions which con- 

 trol the seasonable rainfall are so changing as to produce greater extremes 

 of drouth and flood ; that the water level in many regions is lowering ; and 

 that there is a relationship between the elision of the timber and the irreg- 

 ularity of the rainfall. 



Researches have been made abroad with reference to these questions, but 

 he questioned if these were applicable to our own country with sufficient 

 exactness to be of very great value. He compared the physical geography 

 of the eastern continents to our own, showing that there was the greatest 

 contrasts in the characteristics which are generally conceded to modify 

 climate. 



With regard to our peninsula he remarked : 



"But when we turn our attention to the position and surroundings of our 

 peninsula, we are satisfied that nature chose this spot for some peculiar 

 manifestation of her favors, and when she threw the arms of her encircling 

 lakes in a loving hug about our peninsula she meant business. Looking at the 

 unique position of our State, no thoughtful person will doubt that the 

 meteorological conditions here demand a separate and careful study irrespec- 

 tive of the general climatal conditions prevailing elsewhere. No generalized 

 discussion will meet our condition as a State. * * * What are 

 the relations of forests to rainfall? to soil-water? to crops? to the public 

 health? What will be the influence of deforesting in these various particu- 

 lars? We can gather a large harvest of opinions, guesses, suggestions and 

 views on all these subjects. But what do we absolutely know about any of 

 them? 



" In these questions about the relation of forests to climate we want facts, 

 not fancies — facts strong as granite and changeless as the sun, so that when 

 we build up our theory, and call it a science, we shall not have to ' lay again 

 the foundation of repentance from dead works.' With fancies we may in- 

 flate a beautiful cloud that will soon fade into thin air, but with facts we may 

 build a pyramid that will bide for aye. Have we now such facts on this sub- 

 ject? Who can tell us for certain the real difference between the air in a for- 

 est and that in an open field on a summer day?" 



The address closed with the following words relating to original investiga- 

 tion in this State: "Permit me to say that the whole subject of the relation 

 of forests to meteorology is one of great interest, and would seem to be one of 

 vast importance to our people. If there is a casual relation between forest 

 area and climate, and if there is danger that we may ignorantly disturb the 

 harmonious relation of field to forest, it is time to pause and inquire before 

 the time of safety is overpast. It may seem that the thermometer, the 

 psychrometer and the rain gauge are feeole instrumentalities by which to fix 

 the line of policy of a great State, yet the fall of an apple revealed the law of 

 gravitation and turned human thought into new channels. 



"It seems that we are now in just the position to take up and investigate 

 these questions of overshadowing importance to our people. Thanks to our 

 far-seeing State government, we have a Forestry Commission and a State 

 Weather Service, the very organizations to carry forward such an investiga- 

 tion, and, by singular good fortune, both organizations are under the direction 

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